Brunswick County

Famous for its seafood stew and rich maritime history, is located just off the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean. This Southeastern tourist and living destination is relaxed, carefree and great for fishing or boating. Every October, competitive anglers from all over the East Coast come to Southport for the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament. The area boasts over 40 miles of beaches, multiple golf courses, well-kept marinas, and an exquisite downtown historical community.

Wilmington is between a 30-40 minutes drive from central Brunswick County and the main port city of Southport. The Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is about a 45 minute drive. Highway 17 is the main road in Brunswick County with smaller highways branching off such as 133 going to Southport and 179 to Ocean Isle Beach.

The main towns of Brunswick County are Southport, Boiling Springs Lakes, Oak Island, Bolivia, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach and Shallotte. New home communities are Lanvale Forest, Brunswick Forest, Juniper Creek, Eastbrook, the Villages at Good Marsh and Oceanside at Oak Island. Whether you are looking to purchase a beach bungalow on one of the Brunswick Islands or you prefer a well-planned gated community inland, Brunswick is sure to charm you with its escape from the ordinary.

New Hanover County

Located in the Southeastern tip of North Carolina is New Hanover County; the county is surrounded on two sides by water, the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. The county was created in 1729 from Craven County. The name commemorates the royal family of English, members of the House of Hanover. New Hanover County with its rich history and beautiful coastline boasts many desirable areas such as Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach which are frequented by tourists and locals alike. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College and Miller-Motte Technical College are all located in the county.

A typical commute consists of traveling from Downtown Wilmington to the Wrightsville Beach Area in under 20 minutes. Most people who live in New Hanover County work here as well so the do not need to travel far. Many people travel here from neighboring Pender County for work as well. Traffic can be moderate to heavy during peak travel times and varying with season.

New Hanover County has many established golfing neighborhoods such as Porter’s Neck Plantation, Echo Farms, Cape Fear Country Club, and Landfall. There are also multiple new home communities such as Marsh Oaks, Parkside at Mayfaire, the Village at Summerset, Seagrove, Tanbridge Park, Passage Point, Stones Edge, and Covil Crossing.

Pender County

Formed in 1875 from New Hanover County and was named for William Dorsey Pender of Edgecombe County. Pender was a Confederate general who died at the Battle of Gettysburg. Pender County was largely consistent of plantations and is still ideal for farming. The County Seat of Pender is located in Burgaw. Other towns in Pender County are Hampstead, Rocky Point and those of Topsail Island.

Highway 17 and Interstate 40 both run through Pender County easily linking it to Wilmington and Jacksonville. Moderate traffic is to be expected on these major roads, but the rest of the county is consisted of smaller, country roads. Wilmington is about 30 minutes from the center of Pender County, Burgaw. Jacksonville is a little longer drive at about 40 minutes from Hampstead.

There are many different subdivisions in Pender County as well as farmland sprinkled throughout the countryside. Swan Plantations, Highsmith Estates, Patriots Watch, Oxbow Landing, Riverview, Alligator Lake Estates, Grand Oaks, Morgan Cove Plantations and many more neighborhoods are located in Pender County.